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The President Tree – Third Largest Tree in the World

The Sequoia National Park reminds you of how big the world is and how small we are! Named after President Harding, the President tree is one of the giant sequoias here. Nestled in the Giant Forest, it is the third largest tree in the world and the oldest known living sequoia at the age of 3,200!

The President Tree - Sequoia National Park CA.Pin

As a kid, I used to climb trees all the time! I remember thinking how big they were and always loved the vantage point of getting higher up (it might have something to do with being short :P). Standing next to the trees is such an otherworldly experience.

I stitched 20 or so photos together, and because I shooting at the base of the tree, it’s hard to see how tall the tree is in comparison to us. But to give you some perspective, here’s a shot of Jacob from farther away with some giant sequoias that aren’t even nearly as big as the President:

Sequoia National Park California.Pin
Hiking to the President Tree at Sequoia National Park CA.Pin
The President Tree - Third Largest Tree in the World!Pin

Directions to the President Tree:

  1. To get to the trailhead, follow signs to the General Sherman Tree. Head north on Generals Highway from the Giant Forest Museum. After three miles, turn right on Wolverton Road. Make the next right toward the Sherman Tree Trail and the road ends at the parking lot.
  2. After you arrive, you can walk down to General Sherman, which is usually quite crowded because it’s the largest tree in the world. Keep in mind, it is a 200 foot descent so you’ll have a bit of a hike to get back to the parking lot. Off to the left, there’s a 2.9 mile loop called the Congress Trail. If you have the time, I definitely recommend the hike because you get to see other enormous trees without the crowds. Among these trees are the President, the Senate, and the House. It’s a straightforward hike and that’s paved so it’s easy to follow!

Check out this video of how National Geographic got a photo of the tree.

Did you used to climb trees as a kid?
What’s the largest of anything you’ve ever seen?

xoxo estherJacob

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